Namibia Venture into the wilderness

The explorers reach Namibia he first Europeans to reach Namibia were the Portuguese in the 1480s but they did not find much here to tempt them further inland and it wasn’t until the 1800s that this amazing country began to arouse more widespread interest. One of the first people to be enticed into the interior was the British scientist, explorer, travel writer, geographer and cousin of Charles Darwin, Sir Francis Galton. He and fellow explorer, Charles John Andersson, were the first Europeans to see many of Namibia’s wonders including Lake Otjikoto, the country’s largest permanent natural lake. They came to Otjikoto in May 1851 and wrote of “the most extraordinary chasm it was ever (their) fortune to see”. Despite the local belief that nobody could survive the waters of the lake, the two explorers decided to go for a swim. “…standing in need of a bath, [we] plunged head-foremost into the profound abyss. The natives were utterly astounded. Before reaching Otjikoto, they had told us, that if a man or beast was so unfortunate as to fall into the pool, he would inevitably perish. We attributed this to superstitious notions; but the mystery was now explained. The art of swimming was totally unknown in these regions...The transparency of the water, which was of the deepest sea-green, was remarkable; and the effect produced in the watery mirror by the reflection of the crystallized walls and roof of the cavern, appeared very striking and beautiful.” Sir Francis Galton before departing for Damaraland Galton’s travels in South West Africa 11